COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR TO SPEAK ON WRITING AS A WAY OF HEALING

Stephen J. Lepore, co-author of the recent book, "The Writing Cure: How Expressive Writing Promotes Health and Emotional Well-Being," will speak from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 in room 2099 of Constant Hall. Sponsored by Old Dominion University's Psychology Department, Lepore will review the evidence linking writing to various mental and physical health outcomes, and discuss why and for whom writing may have healing powers.

"During times of despair, many of us find solace in talking with others," said Lepore. "For various reasons, however, we can feel constrained from talking with others, or, simply not have others in whom we can safely confide our innermost thoughts and feelings. In such instances, writing may serve as an important outlet for emotional expression."

Lepore is a faculty member in the Department of Health and Behavior Studies at Teachers College at Columbia University. His scholarly interests include health psychology, social disparities in health and psychosocial interventions for promoting health and quality of life.

He has received several awards including an award from the American Psychological Association for outstanding contributions to health psychology, the Distinguished Visiting Faculty Award from the University of Kentucky, and the Young Investigator Award for outstanding Contributions to the Field of Behavioral Medicine from the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

Lepore received has bachelor's degree from Clark University, his master's degree from Harvard University and his doctorate from University of California, Irvine.

For more information call 683-3114.